COALITION PARTY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume III, Issue 346, 29 April 1935, Page 8

COALITION PARTY

ELECTION CAMPAIGN PLANS PRACTICALLY EVERY SEAT TO BE CONTESTED WELLINGTON April 16th. An official of t/he Coalition Party says it is the party's intention to contest practicably every Parliamentary sunt in the General Election toward the ©nd of the year. It is recognised that an exceptional effort will have to bo made in order to fulfil the Government's confidence in ability to return with a substantial working majority. There is no doubt among the party that a great deal of opposition to the Government exists throughout the Doparticularly in respect of the Government's latest legislation. Already an electioneering organisation has been set up consisting of a Parliamentary committee of twelve

j members from both Houses, and equally representative of each party in the Coalition. The Reform representatives have for their chairman the Hon. P. Wait©, M.L.C., while the chairman of the United, Party's group is the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C. Sine© the close of the Parliamentary session the committee has held several meetings in Wellington with business concentrated on making preliminary arrangements for the development of the- Coalition Party's organisation. So, far, no definite decisions have been madto in the direction of selecting candidates. Indeed, the committees deliberations generally have been devoted to discussion of political feeling in the country, and the reaction of the pojibli'e to the Government's special sessional discussion dealing only with | one class of mortgagors. It is recognised that even among farmers there is a great deal of discontent, due largeit is thought, to misunderstanding of the intricate legislation on their bchaJf. In order to meet this position the special secretarial staff of the Minister of Finance, Et. Hon. J. G. CoateSj is preparing an explanatory booldet which should be ready for the I printer toward the end of the month, i Organiser to be Appointed. j

It is the intention of the party to appoint an experienced organiser, but so far, although several names have been mentioned, a final decision has not been made.

Members of the Coalition Party frankly admit that the Government will suffer some disadvantage becauso of the absence in London of its leading Ministers. Already the Opposition which covers a wiclier field than the Labour 1 Party in the House of Repreis engaged on active proi paganda throughout the country, and this is expected to become more intense during the winter months, when unemployment is certain to become a more provocative political subject. Tho Country Party is reported to be very active through the Auckland district, and there is a prospect of several formidable candidates being put forward against members of the Government Party. Nothing definite .appears to bo known in political circles .about tho activities and future of the Dcmfocrat Party, which may or may not be preparing an electoral surprise. It has peen rumoured that the new party intended to put seventy candidates in the field under a new leader, but the. names of them all at present, are, like the birth of Jeamcs, "wropt in mis-. try." \iivm' Electioneering Material. It is much too early yet to discuss the platform of tine Coalition Party for the General Election, but Ministers have stated that something very good and effective will be submitted to the electors before the campaign opens toward the end of October. The rcsuilt of the meat conferences almost certainly will have some material effect on the attitude of rural -electors; in other Avoids, if Mr. Forbes and Mr. Coates return with banners flying their success will be a great help to the Coalition Party in making its ap-1 peal to the people in difficult political circumstawces. I

The electioneering campaign, of course, will bo preceded by a short and sharp Parliamentary session lasting probably not more than eight weeks. Before leaving for London last week the Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, informed a representative of "The Dominion" that several important legislative measures would be submitted, but no indication was given as to their nature or purpose. In the meantime, the Coalition realises that it has a great fight ahead, and that if it means to win it will bo necessary to equip the party with effective political ammunition.